Apparatus for felling trees.



E. L. PREESE.

APPARATUS FOR PELLING TREES.

APPLICATION FILED AJPRJE), 1909.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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v FREESE. APPARATUS FOR FELLING TREES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-15,1909

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ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES ETSON L. FREFSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR FELLING TREES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Application filed April 15, 1909. Serial No. 489,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETSON L. FREEsn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at New York,- in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Felling Trees, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means or appa ratus for felling trees; and the object thereofis to provide an improved device or apparatus of this class which is particularly designed for felling trees of medium size, and which may be connected with the trunk ofthe tree and operate in suth ananner as to quickly fell the tree, or which may be mounted on a truck to be positioned adjacent to a tree; a further object being to provide an apparatus of the class specified which is simple in construction and operation and comparatively light whereby the transportation thereof from point to point and the use thereof are facilitated.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, andfin which Figure'l is a plan view of my improved apparatus connected with the trunk of a tree in position for use, the trunk of the tree being shown in section, Fig. 2 a side view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1", Fi 4 a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing on y a detail of the starting mechanism on an enlarged scale, Fig. 5 a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1', and 55 of Fig. 2, F 6 a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing only a part of the construction and showing a modification, and;Fig. 8 a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7 I

In the drawings forming part of this specification I have shown at a thetrunk of a tree, and in the practice of my lnvention as shown in the drawings I provide a clamp device 6 adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree, and which, in the form of construction shown, comprises two segmental members having projecting ears b at their opposite end portions through which are passed bolts 6 and by means of this which, in the form ofconstruction shown,

consists of an integral extension of one of the ear members'b and on this arm the operative parts of the apparatus are rota-' tably mounted. My invention however, is not limited to the particular form of clamp device shown, and any suitable device of this class having a projecting member on which the operative parts of the apparatus may be mounted may be substituted for that shown.

In the construction of the operative parts of the apparatus, I provide a yoke-shaped saw frame c composed of channel iron, and in the side parts of the open end portion thereof are secured rods 0 thisconnection being made in the form of construction shown, by means of screws or bolts 0 passed inwardly through the sides offthe yokeshaped frame and in the said side rods, as clearly shown in Fig; 5, and as thus constructed it will be seen that the side rods 0 form a part of the yoke-shaped frame cor a continuation thereof.

Secured to the bottom of the main part of the yoke-shaped frame 0 is a cross plates, the central bottom portion of which'is provided with a trunnion which passes through and is rotatable in the head Ff of the arm I), and with this construction the frame 0 and all the operative parts of the apparatus mounted thereon, as hereinafter described,

are free to rotate on the arm I).

Mounted on and approximately centrally of the frame 0 is a gasolene motor at provided with a power shaft d having a beveled pinioncl and on which is also mounted a balance wheel 03*. Mounted on the inner end portion of the main part of the frame 0 is a magneto c with which is connected a wire 6 which is connected wiLha sparking plug e of the motor (Z, and the magneto e is also provided with a wire 6 which is connected with a regulator device 6 of the motor (Z, these features of the construction including the motor d and the magneto e being of the usual or any preferred form.

Mounted between the rods 0 which form an extension of the yoke-shaped frame c-is a cross head f to which is secured a saw f the cro s head f is provided'at its opposite ed to force said shaft outwardly,

"transmitted to the shaft (Z sides with grooved rollers f 3, consists of top nected by crank rod g. which extends rearwardly through the frame tion thereof, and is connected with a crank g on the lower end of a crank pin g which passes upwardly through a suitable support of mounted on the yoke-shaped frame 0. and

the upperend of which is provided with a ed to engage the gear 9 and within'the.

housing 71 is placed a spiral spring 91 through which the shaft 2' passes and which is adaptand the outer end of the shaft 2' is provided with a crank 2' detachably connected therewith.

This construction is clearly shown in Fig. 4C,

and the crank 2' is provided with a head it provided on itsv inner face with recesses forming teeth 71? the walls of which are all beveled in the same direction, and the shaft I t u by which the arm is may be held in an in- 1' is provided with a pin i which operates in connection with said teeth and recesses.

The shaft 9?, the crank 2' and the pinion constitute the starting mechanism of the motor, and in this operation the crank 1' is con nected with the shaft 6 as shown. Theshaft '1'? is thenforced inwardly until the pinion 2 engages the gear g and in order to start the motor the crankt' is given a quick turn in the proper direction and this movement is of the motor in the usual mannenand as the motor is thrown into operation the crank is detached from the shaft c' as will be readily understood,

. and at the endof this operation thespring 1' forces the shaft 2' outwardly until the pinion 2' is disconnected from the gear 9 and the shaft 2' isnotrotated by the motor when longitudinally of and the latter is in, operation.

The outer rods 0 of the yoke -shaped frame 0 is provided with a flange member j which may be secured thereto or formed integrally therewith, and pivoted thereon as shown at j is a guide arm Z: provided with an. angular extension which passes beneath and transversely of the saw fto about the middle thereof, and said angular exten sion 70? is downwardly curved as shown in Fig. 6 and provided with a supplemental guide arm k which ranges forwardly and beneath the central portion of the saw f This arm or the supplemental part 70 thereof forms a support for'the sawinthe operation of the machine movable on the rods 0 The cross head f, as shown in Fig. i and bottom plates con bolts f and pivoted between said 5 top and bottom plates as shown at f is a 1 Fig. 1', and the frame 0 is also provided rearand prevents unnecessary vibration thereof until the saw has entered the body of thet'ree sulticieutly to prevent such vibration.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. l, the saw f is a double edged saw or pro- 79 vided at. both of its edges with teeth, the object of this construction being to prevent to an extent the saw from binding in the body of the tree, but the binding of the saw in the body of the tree may also be prevented after the tree has been partially cut down by driving wedges into the cut formed by the saw, and the object of curving the angular extension lc of the arm 7:; downwardly is to permit the movement of the saw transversely thereof without affecting the teeth on-the outer edge of the saw.

The flange member j, in the form. of construction shown, is a ngular in cross section, and is connected with the adjacent rod 0 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and pivoted to the downwardly directed portion of said flange j,

' as shown at 1: in Fig. 2, is an arm-mthe rear end portion of which is normally depressed by a spring m and the front end portion of which is provided with-a' pin or projection adapted to pass through a corresponding aperture in the flange j and hold the arm is in operative position shown in wardly of ,themotor (Z with a suitable catch operative position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig 1.

The various parts of the-apparatus herein 10o described are so formed and connected that when the crank g ranges transversely of the frame 0 or the cross head 7' withfwhich the saw 7 is connected is midway of its movement, the machine is balanced on its support 1 5 IF, and this arrangement, as will be understood, prevents unnecessary vibration and jolting and jarring, and the machine is op erated with the least possible friction.

The operation will be readily understood, in'view of the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof. In practice the clamp or other sup port is securedto the trunk of a tree, and the frame cwith the operative mechanism connected therewith is mounted on the end of the arm o The apparatus is put in operation by turning the crank '5 as will be readily understood, and the'outer or free end of the frame 0 is preferably provided with a handle 0 by-means of which said frame together with all the operative parts connected therewith and the saw f'- may be swung horizontally so as to bring the teeth of the sawin contact with the tree, or out of contact with said. tree as may be desired. The handle 0 is alsoused during the opera- 1 tion of the apparatus to continually force the end of the frame 6 adjacent to the tree side members, a saw connected with said inwardly so as to cause a'continual pressure I crank rod. is connected, a

of the teeth of the saw on the trunk or body of the tree, and the apparatus is'ke'pt.v in operation until the trunk of thet-reeis cut through or substantially so, after which the apparatus is detached from the tree and the latter felledby a few strokes- 0f an ax,or wedges may be driven into thecut by the saw for this purpose.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification in which the saw f V is provided-with teeth only on "one edge and the extension of the arm 1: is provided with a groove Ir in which the back edge of'the saw fits, and with this con struction the extension 70 of the arm lc'supports and forms a guide for the saw as will be readily understood.

My nnproved apparatus i's'snn'p'lein construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein described, may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

By mounting the saw frame as herein shown and described, it will be seen, that it mayfibe turned through a complete revolution {on its support if desired; and by reason of this fact the tree may be operated on from either side, and when a double edged saw is employed as shown in Fig. 1, this result may be accomplished without changing the saw or the position thereof in the cross head. This method of operation, as will be understood, renders my improved tree felling apparatus much more practical and efficient than would otherwise be the case, as the ability to operate on the tree from either side thereof has a great advantage as will be readily understood by those familiar with this class of apparatus. I also, in practice,- pivot to the outer end of the arm b of the support a a brace 2 provided at its lower end with a head 39 and having teeth 2 and in practice the teeth 72 may be driven into the trunk of the tree as shownin Fig. 1, and this will serve to brace and support the arm 6* and render the support of the saw frame more stable and secure.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for felling trees, a support adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree, a frame rotatably mounted on said support and balanced thereon and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and provided at ,one end with parallel side memers, a cross head movable between said cross head, a crank rod connected with said cross head, a crank pin mounted in the end of the frame opposite the cross head and prOVided ;;With a crank with which said formed gear connected with said crank pin, ,and a on said frame and providedrwith' a shaft in "operative connection with said. gear.

In an apparatus for felling. trees, a

motor mounted support adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree, a frame rotatably mounted. oirsaid support and balanced thereon and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and provided at one end wit-h parallel side members, a cross head movable between said j side n'iembers, a saw connected with said cross head, a crank rod connected with saidcross head, a crank pin mounted in the end of the frame opposite, the .cross head and provided. with a crank with which said crank rod is connected, a gearconnected with said crank pin, a motor mounted ,on said 'ame-and provided with a shaft in operative connection with said gear, and a :shaftmounted transversely of said gear and,

a pinion meshing provided at one end with with said gear.

In an apparatus for fellingQtrees, a

support adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree, a frame rotatably mounted on said support and balanced thereon and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and provided at one end with parallel side mem, bers, a cross head movable between said side members, asaw connected with said cross head, a crank rod connected with said cross head, a crank pin mounted in the end of the frame opposite the cross head and provided with a crank with which said crank rod is connected, a gear wheel connected with said crank pin, a motor mounted on said frame and provided with a shaft in operative connection with said gear, and a transversely movable starting shaft mount-- ed at the side of said'gear and )rovided with a pinion adapted to engage t e same, said starting shaft being provided with a detachable crank.

4. In an apparatus for felling trees, a sup-. port adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree,"a frame rotatably mounted on said support and balanced thereon and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and provided at one end with parallel side members, a cross head movable between said side members, a saw connected with said cross head, a

crank rod connected with said cross head, a

crank pin mounted in the end of the frame opposite the cross head and provided with 'a crank with which said crank rod is consupport and with a pivoted arm adapted to serveas a guide for the saw. In an apparatus of the class described,

a support adapted to be connected with the trunk of a tree, a on and provided with a motor, a cross head.

saw frame mounted there-5 movable in said frame, devices in operative connection with said motor and said cross liea foi operating said cross head, a saw connected'ivith said cross head, and an arm pivoted to said frame and adapted tobe on and provided with a motor,- a cross head nallv of the saw and to serve movable in said frame, devices in operative connection with said motor and said cross headfor operating said cross head, a saiv eonn'egted with said cross head, and an arm pivoted to said frame and adapted to be swung into position beneath and longitudias a guide and support' for the same, said saw beingprovided with teeth at both edges- 7. In an apparatus for felling port adapted to be connected with the trunk of. tree, a saw frame rotatably mounted on said support and balanced ,thereon' and adapted to be't'urned in a horizontal lane and rovided at one end with aralle side mem ers, a cross head movaii said side members,- a' saw connected with said cross'head and provided at each edge with teeth, and a motor mounted on said frame and geared in connection with-said eross head whereby the saw can be made to operateon opposite sides of a tree without niovingthe support. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name. in presence v of thesubscribing Witnesses this 13th day of April 1909.

' ETSON L. FREESE.

'Witnesses H. R. CANFIELD, C. E. Mti'LREANr 1e between trees, a. sup- 7 

